Laura's Orange January 2011

I'll probably read 3-4 Orange books in January. I've read all of the winners, so I'm focusing on the shortlists now. My LT catalogue includes a tag for Orange Prize Shortlist; I've read all but one book listed there.

Here are some I'm considering, and I'm open to recommendations.

On my shelves, so I'll definitely read this:
The Colour, by Rose Tremain

From my public library:
When We Were Bad, by Charlotte Mendelson
Lottery, by Patricia Wood
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living, by Carrie Tiffany
Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood

I read Alias Grace years ago and liked it. I have The Colour on my list as well, and it's one I own. I expect it to be near the top of my actual reading list.

Another vote for Alias Grace!

I'll vote for Alias Grace too, because I think it may be one I read this January. I'd love to share thoughts on it with you, Laura.

Excellent! That would be fun. We have quite a bit of interest in The Colour and will probably have a thread for it ... we could do the same for any other books with more than 1 reader.

I love this shiny new group!

Yes, for Alias Grace! And I think you'll love The Colour. I thought it was excellent.

I haven't read any of the books mentioned here so I will be following your thread to see what you choose and what you think of the book!

Welcome lkernagh!

The other day my 15yo produced a copy of Alias Grace from her backpack. She borrowed it from her English teacher to read over the holidays. It's her first Atwood and I'm thrilled to bits that she's come to it on her own.

Since Alias Grace is on my OJ list, we may just be a wee bit late in returning it to the teacher :)

I loved Alias Grace - and thrilled that your daughter is reading it! =)

Laura - I echo Jill's remarks - Alias Grace was excellent and what a thrill for you that your daughter is about to enter the wonderful world of Margaret Atwood. I hope her enjoyment of the work is enhanced by your discussions.

I'm lining up my Oranges and am ready to go! I've decided to read all but one of the titles listed in #1. Library books are winging their way to my local branch as I speak. I'll be reading:

The Colour
Alias Grace
Lottery
Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living

I've only read your first two, but they are marvelous. Enjoy!

I'm jumping the gun! I picked up my library books today and since I just finished my current (non-Orange) read, I'm going to dive into Orange January NOW with Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living.

Why am I not at all surprised??

There's no time like the present! Have fun!

I have read Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living and Alias Grace. I will be interested to read your thoughts on both of these novels especially Everyman's Rules. Hope you enjoy both of them.

>15 laytonwoman3rd:: harrumph.

Laura, I loved loved loved The Colour and Alias Grace. I don't know the other two, so will be interested in your thoughts.

Hi Laura, looks like you have some good reads picked out for January. Looking forward to your thoughts on those.

Terri expressed my position exactly.

I finished my first Orange January Book today ... a respectable read:

Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

#22 Wow - that was some speedy reading! Nice review, that definitely sounds like an unusual book and not one I would have thought was a novel from the title.

>23 souloftherose:: that was some speedy reading. Well ... I started it a couple days ago and it's only 224 pages, so not as impressive as it may seem!

>9 lauralkeet:: well, even though my daughter is carrying Alias Grace around in her backpack, she's unwilling to release it from her clutches so I can read it. The nerve! I've just requested it from the library, they have about 1,000,000 copies. Yay!

Here's my second book for Orange January:

Lottery ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

Laura - good review of The Lottery.

Thank you !!

Laura, you are cranking!

I wasn't sure if this one was for me before reading your review but it's now on the wishlist!

>29 mrstreme:: well that's what being off work will do for you, Jill. Back at the office this week so my pace will slow down a bit.

>31 lauralkeet: Huh, I've been off work for two months and don't seem to be getting the same results.

I'm currently reading Alias Grace. And I feel a bit sheepish and dopey.

If you were, at any time in the past, to mention Margaret Atwood to me, I would have said "oh yeah, she's great." But then I did a bit of personal fact-checking and discovered that I've only read one of her books, and it was The Blind Assassin, which I only halfway liked (didn't care for the sci-fi story line).

So I am happy to be rectifying this situation with Alias Grace, which I'm enjoying quite a lot. We also have a copy of The Handmaid's Tale at home which I've been meaning to get to for a while now, and I suspect it won't be long.

And then I think I will feel more honest when I say, "oh yea, she's great" !!

Oh my, you must read The Handmaid's Tale! I know you'll like that one!

I really, really liked Alias Grace, especially after some inflection.

>35 mrstreme:: my oldest had to read The Handmaid's Tale last summer for her English class. I made her tell me about it but without spoilers. I'm finding we like many of the same books (which is really fun btw).

I read Alias Grace when it was published, and I really loved it.

Laura, I think that it's great that you and your daughter enjoy the same books! That's not always true.... I believe that Alias Grace is my favorite Atwood so far with Cat's Eye and The Robber Bride coming in close behind. Although I haven't read much of her poetry, I enjoy that too.

Hi Laura, like several others I've only read Alias Grace and The Colour of the books on your list. Loved the Tremain, reasonably liked the Atwood though it was not my favourite of hers. I think I liked The Blind Assassin more, and loved The Handmaid's Tale and The Robber Bride too.

January book #3:

Alias Grace ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

I haven't quite finished Alias Grace myself, but am enjoying it immensely. I won't read your review until I'm done---not afraid of spoilers, exactly, I just try not to color my own impressions too much while reading.

>41 laytonwoman3rd:: I understand completely, I do the same thing. Glad you're enjoying it!

Good review of Alias Grace Laura!

Glad to hear you liked Alias Grace. I liked it a lot when I read it a few years ago. Even though it wasn't a murder mystery, I found that Atwood played with my mind and had me thinking different things at different times (don't want to say too much and spoil it for those who are planning to read it).

I loved The Blind Assassin and don't know why I haven't read any of her others. A friend of mine here has tons of Atwoods, so I might borrow this one from her.

My fourth and last book for Orange January !

The Colour ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

We certainly agree on The Colour, Laura. Until Trespass, it was my least favorite Rose Tremain. The fact that I really enjoyed it shows you where I have her in my writing pantheon.

I'm in the minority with The Colour. I've tried it twice, and just can't get into it. Maybe another day.

Nice review, btw!

wookie, I listened to it on audio. Maybe you could try that?

The Colour is now my favorite Tremain (I've also read Restoration, Music and Silence, The Road Home, and Trespass).

#49> Oh, I'm a shockingly bad listener! I keep on trying to do other things, and I lose track of what's happening! I think I'll just tackle some of her other books in the meantime, I thought Music and Silence was magnificent, and have several of her others to read. I'm not ditching her as an author, I'm just avoiding that one for the time being.

Like I've never gotten anywhere with Margaret Atwood's Surfacing either. I'll just keep on reading her other books...

Now that's a solid Orange January's worth of reading, Laura: I've got to keep your focus in mind for July's choices! ::looks sideways at the Tremain shelf::

Ha ha, thanks BIP. As much as I'm trying not to plan my reading this year, I do tend to look at January and July as my "all or mostly Orange" months. Thus I may not read another Orange book until July and I already have a list of 5-6 I'd like to read then.